October 28, 2007

A-Rod Opts Out of Contract : He has taken off th pinstripes. I think he did this now to divorce himself from the managerial decision coming tomorrow. I also think that he knows something about Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte that others don't. Where's he going: nobody knows.

Technically, I believe they have to submit the request to MLB head offices. So this might actually just be part of the "negotiation" process. If he does opt out, look for Mike Lowell to rake in a LOT of money as well this off-season (as the "other star 3B" available).

The timing of this announcement -- during the 8th inning of the would-be World Series finale -- is pretty ridiculous. And to FOX for interrupting game coverage for a good 5 minutes of Ken Rosenthal: Fuck you.

The Red Sox would be insane to let Mike Lowell go to sign Arod. A better path for the Red Sox would be to give Mike Lowell a 3 year deal with and option for a fourth while they develop a young third baseman over the next two years in the minors. Lowell is a much classier player and a clutch player when a championship is on the line, Arod does not measure up.

I think he did this now to divorce himself from the managerial decision coming tomorrow. I think he did it to make more money. The timing of the news upstaged some of the late-inning drama of the Sox winning a second series. You gotta love agents.

The Red Sox would be insane to let Mike Lowell go to sign Arod. That's crazy talk. Lowell was a salary throw-in two years ago. He had a career year this season and deserved the Series MVP, but A Rod is a monster.

The chance of A Rod in BOS is about 10%: a lot of guys need to go- Lowell and the 2004 hero to begin with. I can see SF and OAK getting him, as well as the Cubs (though their chances are a tad less). The Mariners are right now in the best position, and have capability to sign him tomorrow. I honestly believe that is where he will land. I wish he came to the Bay. A Rod has two great regrets: the first is leaving Seattle, and the second is not joining and the Sox and getting two rings. I think he will first try to correct the second mistake, see it is impossible, then try to fix the first (which I believe he will succeed in). However, the Cubs are the only team in my list to have any shot at a title. However, with the M's, I think he will eventually make it to the Series or ALCS, but lose.

You have to marvel at the arrogance of the Yankee management: "If you don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee" "If we’re going to make you rich and we’re going to give you the privilege of being a Yankee" Quotes from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/sports/baseball/29arod.html?hp Magnitude? Privilege? Give me a frackin' break.

That's crazy talk. Lowell was a salary throw-in two years ago. He had a career year this season and deserved the Series MVP, but A Rod is a monster. A-Rod --- never played in a World Series game. History of mediocrity in the post-season. Mike Lowell --- Two World Series rings. MVP of the 2007 series. Gold glove caliber 3rd baseman. Well-known as a class guy and a great presence in the clubhouse. I think I know who I want as my 3rd baseman for the next 3 or 4 years. Hey, he's so good they named a city in Massachusetts after him.

Well... to be fair, I think the biggest reason we see A-Rod "not perform" in the post-season is that he puts too much pressure on himself, and presses. He finally let go of that for this regular season, and was clutch in the regular season. It's his own fault, really; he takes huge contracts, which is his right and privilege as probably the most talented player of his, and perhaps any, generation. But huge contracts mean you limit the team's ability to have flexibility in the other 24 roster spots, and put the bullseye squarely on yourself. When a utility infielder making $4m a year has an off-series, no one even notices. When a $25m+ player has an off-series, he'll hear about it constantly- and that echo chamber probably makes him tenser, more urgent in every at-bat, which only furthers the vicious cycle. A-Rod's gotta regret leaving Seattle the year before that amazing 2001 season (and I suspect had he stayed, they would have won more than 116 games and a World Series), but also regret that the MLBPA kept Alex from winning two rings with Boston. Remember, in 2003 he was set to come to the Red Sox, and had agreed to a pay cut to make it happen, but the MLBPA vetoed the deal because they didn't want the precedent. End result, Alex spends 4 productive years individually with a Yankees franchise that is having another swan song due to mismanagement. So in his defense, he tried to take less money to join a good franchise, and the result was the MLBPA stopped him. Perhaps opting out will lead him to make a similar move: perhaps he'll actually do the unheard of in pro sports and take a lot less money to go with a franchise he wants to be with. Howard_T not withstanding, I'd love to see both Mike Lowell and A-Rod playing the left side of the diamond next year for the Red Sox. Don't forget guys- A-Rod was originally a shortstop, and a darn good one. :)

A-Rod --- never played in a World Series game. History of mediocrity in the post-season. His playoff woes are legendary, but getting a team to the postseason matters too, and Lowell's not going to do that as well as A Rod over the next four years, barring injury.

If the pressure in NYC is hard on A-Rod, I don't think he'd weather Boston's media. The Sox don't need him, especially for what it would cost them. Let some other team pick him up and spend themselves into the toilet (a la the Rangers).

And to FOX for interrupting game coverage for a good 5 minutes of Ken Rosenthal: Fuck you. This almost makes me glad I was stuck on a plane for all of game 4. Almost. "other star 3B" I do wonder if he'll switch back to SS. various crazy talk about picking Lowell over A-Rod Marlins fan, Red Sox fan, and Coral Gables High '96. (Mike was '92). But you'd have to be batshit insane to take Lowell over A-rod, especially for any sort of long-term contract. (Except for the detail that you'll pay A-Rod three times as much as Lowell.) Yes, A-Rod is historically mediocre in the post-season, but he helps get you to the post-season, which for most teams is much more important. (I hope the Sox don't take him, frankly, while I wouldn't mind having Lowell back, but as the defending Series champs, the Sox are in a unique position.)

Lowell over A-rod, especially for any sort of long-term contract I wouldn't want a long-term deal for either of them. I think A-Rod is a monster, but he's asking for too many years. Where's the assurance he'd be worth $30 million 8 years from now? No thanks. Plus he's a distraction. I've gone from hoping like hell they got him in the off-season at the start of the year to hoping like hell he winds up with the Cubs.

I think A-Rod has plenty of great performances in him, but it's a team game, and in terms of team results that matter, I think we're going to see it all become irrelevant over the next few years. A quarter of a billion dollars? That's not baseball money, that's Pentagon money. There isn't a club that won't be hurt by that, even if it technically can be fit into the budget. I'm sorry that the Yankees ever went there, and as much as he was a contributor at the plate this season...better luck elsewhere, A-Rod.

I would bet in 8 years he is not the highest paid player. He wasn't even the highest paid player this year; Clemens was. On the plus side of him announcing during the WS, I got to see Gammons piss all over him this morning on Sportscenter. I'm usually skeptical of claims that someone isn't a team player, but Gammons just sliced and diced him. Was fun.

Buster Olney unloads on the Rod... "The way this played out could not have been more apropos, because A-Rod needs to be bigger than the game; he needs to be more important than the Red Sox or the Rockies or any other team, or any other player. He is one of the greatest players in history at compiling statistics, the greatest ever at compiling wealth, and his next employer will have to buy into that. The World Series can't matter as much as A-Rod."

Interesting strategy by Boras. Considering how Boras typically uses the Yankees as a bogeyman in contract negotiations and the fact that the Yankees typically can go higher than most clubs in terms of dollars and years, I wonder how having the Yankees out of the picture is going to affect what he can get for A-Rod. Who is going to pay $30/year for 8+ years? I don't think the Cubs will do it, particularly with the impending sale of the team and considering that fact that A-Rod probably doesn't help them a whole lot other than at SS. The Mets possibly have the budget, with media revenues and a new ballpark year after next, but I'd say they're set at 3B and SS for years to come. The Dodgers seem to have some sort of quasi-commitment to going young, and have pretty decent 3B and SS prospects, although nothing that would keep them from going after A-Rod under the right circumstances, but I'm not sure I see them spending that kind of money on one player. I feel like the Giants have already been down this road with Bonds and decided they didn't want to keep doing that. The Red Sox? I doubt it considering what they've been able to do with their current line-up and plugging in parts from the farm and free agency, and it seems that the fan base wants nothing to do that. Try to re-sign Lowell for a short-term (3 year max) deal at reasonable money or, if not, move Youkilis back to third and get somebody like Carlos Pena to play first. So what does that leave? The Angels? I suspect Arte Moreno will be willing to put up some big money, but I don't know how much leverage Boras is going to have with the Yankees out of the picture.

I think it'll be the Angels. They're the only team that really makes sense to me. But I also wouldn't count out a new ownership group in Chicago wanting to make a splash... However, they have to be in place to do so, I would imagine. My gut says Angels, though. They need the bat most, it's far away from NY, it's a contending team as it is, Moreno is desparate to be a big time free agent player and Vladdy is the most reluctant superstar going - so he won't have to do any spotlight sharing a la Jeter. The Red Sox? That's a nutty proposition. Firstly, they all hate him - Varitek especially, I understand - and they just won the freaking WS with virtually everyone returning. They're the last team that needs to take this financial burden and chemistry risk.

In other Yankees news (and here's guessing it becomes a FPP in any event), it looks like it's Girardi for the Yankees. If I were a Yankees fan, I would be less than thrilled about Girardi's (admittedly short) history with young arms, but we'll see if management (Cashman et al) impose Joba-type rules with respect to the young pitchers next year.

I wouldn't have been so hasty, as ARod, to assume that he'll get his $30M for 8 years as the number of teams capable to handle that are limited and all tied into major contracts (outside of maybe the Dodgers). Granted, if his reason for leaving is that the situation in NY soured, that's one thing, but if Scott Boras is telling him it's a guaranteed good financial move, I hope it comes back to bite him in the ass.

ARod is a perenial loser, any team that signs him is guaranteed never to win any important games. He's a cancer and cares only about himself. Mike Lowell has 3 things ARod doesn't, class, will, and dedication. The Red Sox would be fools not to resign him, he's a proven clutch performer. Signing him would certainly put the Red Sox as a favorite again next year.

You have to marvel at the arrogance of the Yankee management: "If you don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee" "If we’re going to make you rich and we’re going to give you the privilege of being a Yankee" Replace Yankee with Dallas Cowboy and you'll understand how Jerry Jones managed to drive his football team into the ground for 10 years. ARod is a perenial loser, any team that signs him is guaranteed never to win any important games. When a team buys ARod, I think it will be looking at winning as secondary. It will really be buying the publicity and the homerun chase over the next several years.

As I said before, it will take a lot for A Rod to get to Boston. The LA Times reported a few months back that talks between Stoneman and Lucifer (Boras) had ended with no deal. The LA Times went on to report that the Dodgers were intent on signing a handful of big name players, but passing up on A Rod, as well as Bonds (though talk of Bonds coming was very short). They had to give up Kent and Garciaparra for A Rod, which they did not want to (Colletti did not want to). Luis Gonzalez will likely be gone, which is going to alleviate their payroll to sign big name players. Torii Hunter, Andrew Jones, Mike Cameron, Bobby Abreu, and Adam Dunn were all options on the table. HEre is a list fo all outfielders available this offseason: Bobby Abreu NYY Moises Alou NYM Barry Bonds SF Milton Bradley SD Mike Cameron SD Brady Clark SD Jeff DaVanon OAK Adam Dunn CIN Darin Erstad CWS Luis Gonzalez LAD Shawn Green NYM Eric Hinske BOS Torii Hunter MIN Geoff Jenkins MIL Andruw Jones ATL Bobby Kielty BOS Rob Mackowiak SD Orlando Palmeiro HOU Corey Patterson BAL Aaron Rowand PHI Reggie Sanders KC Sammy Sosa TEX Brad Wilkerson TEX

The LA Times reported a few months back that talks between Stoneman and Lucifer (Boras) had ended with no deal. If this is true, wouldn't this be tampering and illegal under MLB rules? I'm not suggesting it's not true, I just don't know the tampering rules well but had assumed such contact/negotiations when a player is not a free agent was against the rules. Adam Dunn will only be available if the Reds (stupidly) do not exercise a club option.

Well, I don't think he's going to thrive anywhere, for various reasons, but I agree with debo: what would be different about Boston? I think it is that he would be going into a situation where the fan base hates him. Yes, performance covers a multitude of sins and past wrongs, but it's not like Derek Jeter, where some Boston fans hate him but almost all have a grudging respect for him. Before some Yankees fans shamefully turned on A-Rod, he was a much anticipated signing with a lot of fan support. A-Rod going to Boston would be him going into a hornets' nest -- even if some fans could get over it and support him, the predisposition to turn on him the second something went wrong or to blame him for whatever went wrong would be a real issue.

Can the Yankees offer A-Rod salary arbitration? After the Red Sox pulled in some excellent draft picks in exchange for the players who left the team in the post-2004 exodus (a pick that became Ellsbury in exchange for Cabrera, a pick that became Buchholz in exchange for Pedro), it's not difficult to see how losing a big-money free agent can be a blessing in disguise for even the most well-heeled team. You can't get the picks unless you offer to arbitrate, though.

It's ironic that the evil empire has a problem with a guy who exercises a clause that they mutually agreed to. Screw that. The Yankees organization does not deserve loyalty. They hire guns and discard them all the time. A-Rod helped the club while he was there, and owes them nothing further. I for one (and it seems I'm about the only one) think that A-Rod should face no ill-will for opting out.

I'd like A-rod to come to St. Louis and there is a outside chance he might. Everyone wants to play here because of the fan support for the team. I don't know of any other team that pulls 3 million plus with a base of 1.5 million. Other players have come here for less money because management and fan support. Bad years, good years, the support is here. Maybe it's wishful thinking but I think he is leaving Yankees for other reasons than money. Nothing I can put my finger on, just a hunch.

The Yankees organization does not deserve loyalty. They hire guns and discard them all the time. A-Rod helped the club while he was there, and owes them nothing further. Of course, you're right. But the same logic would apply to Boston and Lowell, Schilling, etc. I'm just sayin'.

I for one (and it seems I'm about the only one) think that A-Rod should face no ill-will for opting out. Not even for doing it in the 8th inning of the last game of a World Series he wasn't involved in?

A-Rod has two testicles. So, did you do the exam yourself or call the woman he stepped out with in Toronto? I think he ends up with one of the West Coast teams -- I just don't know which one. Were I a betting man (and given my track record over the past two weeks, maybe I should be), I'd say it's the Angels. Money, climate, solid team -- that's a pretty nice mix.

Not even for doing it in the 8th inning of the last game of a World Series he wasn't involved in? Exactly. This is a business; he can opt out if he wants to, and he won't be alone. But he could have done it any time in the next 10 days- doing it during the world series was a crass, self-centered gesture far above and beyond what any other player opting out of their contract has done. Justified or not, it will confirm his image as a self-centered jerk at a time. Hopefully the multiple reamings he received for it on ESPN will make teams think twice about signing him, so that (for once) a Boras client has to pay for being associated with such a bore. Sadly, I'm not holding my breath. Also, Rovell on the deal; he predicts 8 years @ 32M/per, with a bidding war between the three california teams and (possibly) the Yankees stepping back in, like they stepped back in with Torre after basically promising to fire him.

I think it is that he would be going into a situation where the fan base hates him. Cowboys fans hated Deion Sanders with an never-ending intensity that was beyond measure until the second he signed with them. Yankees fans probably weren't too fond of Johnny Damon either. BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat.

BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat. I'm not so sure about this. If Red Sox fans get it in their minds to hate a guy, however, irrational it is, they will do so. I'm not saying they are one-of-a-kind in this regard, but they are certainly unique. Sox fans are more than willing to overlook the shortcomings of a fan favorite (someone like Trot Nixon or Varitek) but will quickly jump on someone who they have decided is not worthy of the love of the Nation, like J.D. "Nancy" Drew (who is perhaps in the process of rehabilitating his image, but who knows long-term). Now A-Rod is not J.D. Drew or Julio Lugo or whoever else in terms of production, but I think it's a mistake to assume that Boston fans will immediately warm to him and I think they clearly would turn on him the minute something goes wrong. I think from a pure numbers perspective, you do whatever you can within reason to sign A-Rod. But there is a lot more to it than that in terms of clubhouse chemistry, fan reaction, general distraction, media treatment (I suspect the Boston sports press would have their knives out for A-Rod from day one), etc. I suspect the Red Sox sit this one out. But don't take it from me, who has spent three or fours years of the past eight in the Boston area but can't claim the Sox as my team -- what say you, justgary, yerfatma, jerseygirl, Howard_T, Joey Michaels, Hal Incandenza, et al.? Do you want A-Rod on the Red Sox? Do you think "BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat"?

I still think AfROD might end up back with the Yankees. One of the Steinbrenners said the Yankees would not re-sign him or negotiate with him. His quote was: "Not if it's made official." So they might negotiate with him until it is made "official."

Holden; "Try to re-sign Lowell for a short-term (3 year max) deal at reasonable money or, if not, move Youkilis back to third and get somebody like Carlos Pena to play first" Wise observation. I did not think of that one. With the money that a team saves by not going after Arod, it can get Pena and the young, very good but still a little green catcher for the D-Rays. That choice would be an enticing one for Boston if Lowell leaves. The Red Sox may even be able to get Kasmir, a good young pitcher that many AL East teams would love to have.

That's crazy talk. Lowell was a salary throw-in two years ago. He had a career year this season and deserved the Series MVP, but A Rod is a monster. Most anyone is going to pale in comparison to arods stats, no question, and that shouldn't be ignored. But clubhouse chemistry, the baggage and circus arod brings to town, the money and the years he wants, can't be ignored either. The sox should forget about arod, sign lowell, and spend the extra money on pitching. Well, I don't think he's going to thrive anywhere, for various reasons, but I agree with debo: what would be different about Boston? posted by lil_brown_bat He'd be coming to a team that already hates him. And it was David Wells who has played for both teams that found boston, being a smaller town, much more stifling than new york. I have no doubt it would be worse. Cowboys fans hated Deion Sanders with an never-ending intensity that was beyond measure until the second he signed with them. Yankees fans probably weren't too fond of Johnny Damon either. BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat. Would arod be able to turn some fans around with an amazing season? Sure. But he'll never be loved like other boston players. Boston fans not only chanted 'don't sign arod' after the game, but when the sox returned to fenway also. In no way is this comparable to Deion in dallas. Personally I'll be devastated if lowell leaves and arod comes to boston. I can't not root for the sox, but that scenario would bring me to the brink.

Do you want A-Rod on the Red Sox? Do you think "BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat"? Like I said, I was all for him coming here through about the All-Star Break. I don't know what changed it for me. As much as anything, it might be the Sox are so close to being the Yankees as is this would just completely push us over the top of the Evilness scale . . . no, that's not it. I just don't like him. Fake, smarmy, unlovable. Celtics fans embraced some arch-enemies over the years, but it was usually when they were well past prime and on a victory lap with any team who would have them (i.e., the mid '90s-00s-era Celtics). It'd be a little bit gross to have A-Rod show up at Spring Training, but it would be a lot worse given he'd be replacing Lowell who has been thoroughly enjoyable. I feel like a fairly jaded sports fan, but Mike Lowell made me smile a ton of times over the past couple of years with stupid shit, attempts at the hidden ball trick just because it was a Wednesday against Tampa Bay and he was bored, always kicking bunts foul when they stopped in fair territory for a hit, always joking with the 3B ump and playing the best defense at third I can remember a Sox player providing. He's no A-Rod, but we should be grateful for that everywhere except the stat book.

Mike Lowell has 3 things ARod doesn't, class, will, and dedication. So true. I think that Oakland and Seattle (which are all but done with A Rod) are the only two places he can thrive in, because there are few fans, and no desire to win. With the A's, most of the fans are i n the Stockton-Tracy-Modesto area or in SJ, and do not bother to attend games. They just root from home.

A-rod's the greatest when his team has nothing to lose, but once the playoffs start, he starts to suck.A green, fire breathing dragon during the regular season that turns into a timid toad during the post season. Just because people keep saying this, doesn't make it true. When his team is on the brink of making the World Series (ALCS), Alex Rodriguez has batted .315/.413/.611 during his career. I mean, not everyone can bat as well as Derek Jeter does during the championship series (.262/.339/.405)... People keep forgetting that he was fantastic for Seattle in the 2000 ALCS, and was a man among boys for the Yankees during the first 4 games of the 2004 ALCS. He wasn't the only player to collapse in the final 4 games (*cough*Derek Jeter .200/.333/.233 for the entire series*cough*).

I think A-Rod is probably the greatest baseball player we'll see in this generation. Keep him off muh Red Sox, though. It would be a bad personality match for the team, in my opinion. Honestly, I'm not sure what team he would match well with. He's just so... A-Rod, you know?

BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat. They were chanting "Don't sign ARod" outside Fenway when the team returned late afternoon as well... and I will let you know if they are doing it tomorrow at the parade. I'd bet they are. Especially when Lowell's duckboat goes cruising by. But hey, I'm sure they'll turn around and really learn to love him though. They'll forget the ALCS Arroyo slap, the Varitek fight, the fake huffing and puffing he does when he's fielding 3B, the smugness, the inexplicable stretches of unclutchiness, the phony way he carries himself sometimes. And really, it's not a stretch to think that soon after that, Britney Spears will become a Kinesiology professor. Joaquin Phoenix and I will marry. And rcade will be promoted to Assistant Pope. I don't want ARod. I know. There's no real logic behind it except to say that "it just won't work here" and that may not make sense to people outside of Boston. He's been through too much adversity in too recent of times with Boston and the fans. He won't be able to sneeze in this town without someone criticizing if he put enough effort into the sneeze, if the resulting spray from his mouth is showing decline from sneeze spray of previous years or, god forbid, if insert alternatives at 3B here could have sneezed better and for less money. He's going to be a distraction. The media is going to be all over him. His mere presence is going to drag the real nutty asshole callers to WEEI out of the woodwork and quite frankly, I think we have our fair quota of nutty assholes on the radio. Pass. They can win without him and have done so.

People keep forgetting that he was fantastic for Seattle in the 2000 ALCS, and was a man among boys for the Yankees during the first 4 games of the 2004 ALCS. I think there's a lot of people that haven't forgotten, they're just starting to tune out. He's gotten the rep that he can't hit in the playoffs starting with the last three games of 2004 (0 RBI) and continuing with 05, 06, 07 (1 RBI). So I'm not sure what pointing to a Seattle series 7 years ago (with nothing like the pressure he felt in NYC) proves. At what point do you stop pointing to a series fast approaching a decade ago as a defense? And I know, small sample size and all. Am I'm not sure I buy into anything other than that and bad luck, but the 'what he did way back when' defense is starting to wear thin.

A Rod, in the very beginning will thrive in North Chitown like no star has in any city. However, this will be like a honeymoon, it will end very quickly. The Cubs and Bosox do not have the capability to get him, and the M's seemed to have fallen out. There are a few things I wonder though: with Bonds gone and the A's out of the running, how much money will the Giants hold for A Rod, could a likely Torre regime in LA cause Colletti to send Nomar and Kent to the gallows, as he intends with Gonzo, to be able to get A Rod at the request of Torre, and with Stoneman out of the general picture, will the Angels give in and create a TV channel, and thus seal the deal to lure A Rod to the OC? These questions really fuel the mind, and it seems harder to imae how Buster Olney said so easily that A Rod will don the black and orange.

"I for one (and it seems I'm about the only one) think that A-Rod should face no ill-will for opting out. Not even for doing it in the 8th inning of the last game of a World Series he wasn't involved in?" Comment icon posted by yerfatma at 2:24 PM CST on October 29 Hey yerfatma, Guess you didn't know that ARod has a performance clause with the Yanks that's triggered when he makes an appearance in the World Series ... think this counts?

In no way is this comparable to Deion in dallas. You BoSox fans think you own passion and the rest of us are just renters. After signing for the Niners, Deion played an integral part in keeping the Cowboys from a threepeat -- an achievement that would've put them in greatest-ever territory. That meant as much in Dallas as everything on JerseyGirl's well-itemized list of A-Rod faults means in Boston. If he signs with the Sox, you won't be able to count all the A Rod jerseys in the stands on Opening Day. Besides, he'd be a giant F-U to the Yankees. As big as how you felt the first time Clemens stood on the mound in pinstripes.

He's gotten the rep that he can't hit in the playoffs starting with the last three games of 2004 (0 RBI) and continuing with 05, 06, 07 (1 RBI). Hold up. He's getting blamed for having only 1 RBI in the 2007 playoffs? He batted .267/.353/.467. That's not "regular season ARod" performance, but it's definitely not "choketastic". If people aren't getting on base in front of him (*cough*Jeter*cough*), then how is he supposed to knock them in? but the 'what he did way back when' defense is starting to wear thin. But it's perfectly acceptable for Jeter-maniacs to keep calling him Captain Clutch, even though he's wholeheartedly stunk in two of the past 4 post-seasons. Or conveniently forget that Jason Giambi (who has been a "Yankee curse" for longer than ARod) has been below-average in four of the five post-seasons he's been a Yankee? Besides, my comments about his Seattle series and ALCS success is because people are trying to paint him as having always being a playoff choker. Empirical evidence proves otherwise. And why would playing in Seattle in the playoffs be less pressure than playing in New York in the playoffs? Seattle has never been to the World Series, so don't you think that getting there would be more important than to that franchise than to the one that's already won so many?

Well said, rcade, and on edit, grum. I look at this situation as a Blue Jay fan with a long memory. I think back to the 1993 season when the Jays aquired Rickey Henderson. It wasn't quite the same, but a lot of fans looked at Rickey as a bit of a jerk. Well, ok, a real asshole. The group of Jays fans that I hung out with figured, he's still an asshole, but now he's our asshole. We loved having him on our team. I have a suspicion that once he is aquired, the fans of the team that signs him will embrace him, as he is one of the most talented players in the game. ARod wouldn't survive in Boston. Why? He survived, and thrived in the largest media market in the world, what makes you think he'd crumble in Boston?

After signing for the Niners, Deion played an integral part in keeping the Cowboys from a threepeat -- an achievement that would've put them in greatest-ever territory. That meant as much in Dallas as everything on JerseyGirl's well-itemized list of A-Rod faults means in Boston. If he signs with the Sox, you won't be able to count all the A Rod jerseys in the stands on Opening Day. This has nothing to do with passion, this has to do with hate. The 'don't sign arod chants', the petition to not sign arod, is there anything that happened when deion was signed that can compare? There isn't. Remember when T.O. spiked the ball on the cowboy star at midfield? Cowboy fans got over that pretty quickly. Plus, it's not just a difference in passion, it's a difference in sports. Football players are hidden behind helmets. Baseball players are much more assessable. A sox fan has at least 3 pitches to boo arod every time he hits. When would dallas get a chance to boo deion? There's just not a similar situation. If arod doesn't continue to hit out of his mind as a red sox it's going to get ugly. And boston is a much smaller town than NYC. No where to hide. And I'm sure there would be plenty of arod jerseys at fenway. But if he doesn't produce like the fans think a 30m player should it's going to get really ugly really fast. I just think there's huge differences. I'm not saying arod can't make it in boston, I'm just saying it would be much more difficult than deion lining up at corner back. But it's perfectly acceptable for Jeter-maniacs to keep calling him Captain Clutch, even though he's wholeheartedly stunk in two of the past 4 post-seasons. One has nothing to do with the other. I don't get the whole "arod's not so bad by comparsion" angle. Yes, it's unfair. Jeter gets a pass. And if arod goes to boston ortiz would get a pass before arod. Arod is considered the best player in the game. He's the one who's going to get 30m a year. So fans unfairly expect more. It reminds me when people complain that Bonds gets all the steroid attention while others skate by. Well, he's a hall of famer. So why is it a surprise? And why would playing in Seattle in the playoffs be less pressure than playing in New York in the playoffs? I just can't take this question seriously. That's not "regular season ARod" performance, but it's definitely not "choketastic". If people aren't getting on base in front of him (*cough*Jeter*cough*), then how is he supposed to knock them in? I haven't looked up the stats, but I'm sure he's had opportunities. But you're preaching to the choir. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he had 10 rbis in his next playoff series (with whatever team). I just think the seattle series is starting to reach its expiration date as defense. I have a suspicion that once he is aquired, the fans of the team that signs him will embrace him, as he is one of the most talented players in the game. Well, it didn't happen in new york. He was booed constantly last year. He had to have a career year to get cheers.

There are obvious reasons for Boston to say thanks-but-no, not least the standouts of this postseason. If 2004 was about the veterans leading the push over the top, 2007 was about the prospects coming up big, with the support of unselfish career players like Lowell. (Yeah, there's Manny, but anyway.) I'm about as adopted a fan as you can get, but I'd guess that the feeling in Boston is "don't change a winning formula", and like holden said, he'd be blamed for anything that did go wrong. The forward-planning arguments in the Nation are about dealing with the free agents: Lowell's a tricky one for forward planning, but if I were Epstein, I'd give Schilling another year with an eye on securing him long term in some kind of coaching capacity. Every big investment in Boston needs to take the long view. Besides, he'd be a giant F-U to the Yankees. The rather distinctive pennant to be unveiled next spring in Fenway is bigger. As is the ability to say 'nah, don't need him': there's a certain subtle deliciousness in turning down the Yankees' cash-sink that the Sox Nation can afford these days. There are irritating players you'd admit to wanting on your team: Henderson's one, Kenny Lofton's another, Roberto Alomar was another. (The soccer comparison would be a battler like Robbie Savage.) He's-our-asshole players generally don't play as if the sun shines out of their rears. A-Rod goes to the Angels and starts hanging out with the Beckhams.

what say you, justgary, yerfatma, jerseygirl, Howard_T, Joey Michaels, Hal Incandenza, et al.? Do you want A-Rod on the Red Sox? Do you think "BoSox fans would embrace the guy in a heartbeat"? I find a bit of a parallel in the Randy Moss trade to the Patriots. Before the season, the writers and a lot of fans were all over the guy being a distraction, over the hill, not a good teammate, etc, etc. Try to find a negative thought now. The Red Sox are not the Patriots, and baseball is not football. On the Patriots there are a number of veteran leaders who set the tone for the team. The idea is that a player must buy in to the overall system and play the team game. Baseball, being a team sport in which individual performance is paramount, does not lend itself well to this philosophy. What is more important in baseball is the feeling in the clubhouse that your teammates can be depended upon to work hard and do their best to win, not pad their individual statistics. OK, holden, I haven't really answered your question. My opinion is that A-Rod would not be welcomed in Boston. The press would be harsh, the talk radio shows would wear out their "bleepers" trying to keep the obscenities off the air, and fandom would be grousing. The key is the month of April. If he hits the daylights out of the ball in the first month, says all of the right things to Tina Cervacio, acts like he really cares about winning, and gets his uniform dirty on a regular basis, the tide may turn. Even if he were to do all of these things, one 4 or 5 game slump or a couple of critical misplays in the field would have the wolves at his door. I just can't see the fans thinking that A-Rod in a Red Sox uniform is a good thing. I have a couple of other things about comments above. First, the idea of putting A-Rod at short and keeping Lowell is not bad. I had the same thought. He would be a significant upgrade over Lugo. Second, I admit that Boston fans do give the impression that we have a monopoly on passion. It is not intentional, but it seems to be a part of the New England psyche. That is, being associated with a winner is important to those who survive the bleakness of winter in the Northeast. I've been to Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics games on the road, and I'm rather surprised at how passive the fans of the home team seemed to be. Maybe it's a healthier attitude to realize that the game is not life or death, but it sure is a lot more fun to believe that it is.

first, the idea of putting A-Rod at short and keeping Lowell is not bad. I had the same thought. Can he still play short? He looks bigger now, he's older. I haven't heard boras talking about him moving to short. I think those days are past.

Not sure Moss is a good comparison. He was a trade for a 4th round draft pick (what do you have to lose at that point) versus $30+mil/yr in a long-term contract. That's a risk worth taking. But, like H_T said, football is driven by a system and the team. The Pats have proven their's works and Bellichick can bring strays into the fold. Francona and mgmt have established a great balance of personalities/talent. A-Rod would f that up in a hurry (starting with his history playing the Sox [slappy McWhiney], the fans [already chanting 'don't sign ARod'], the media [smaller, more intense market], and moving quickly into his innate demand for all the attention [announcing his intention during the WS]). The real question is do the Sox need A-Rod to win another WS? With most of the roster returning, and a lot of young players who will ideally keep improving, I'd say no. Especially when you consider the cost. They can afford it, but that locks up a lot of money that is better spent on keeping current players and picking up prospects.

I'd give Schilling another year with an eye on securing him long term in some kind of coaching capacity. Oh God no. Where does the idea he can coach young people even come from? ARod has a performance clause with the Yanks that's triggered when he makes an appearance in the World Series ... think this counts? Nice.

If he signs with the Sox, you won't be able to count all the A Rod jerseys in the stands on Opening Day. Yes. This is absolutely true. BoSox fans are probably loathe to hear it, but you guys were about an hour away from getting him three years ago and couldn't wait. All he's done since is win 2 MVPs. NY fans hated him because they didn't give a rat's ass what happened during the regular season - unless y'all are becoming more and more like them (which actually has a certain inevitability if the winnig keeps continuing), you may still appreciate a great season. Could you imagine him in Fenway? He's no pull hitter but he could rake that park. Anyway - I think it's an unnecessary move on Boston's part. They just don't need him - where'd he hit? 3rd? 4th? - Then what of Papi or Manny? I don't think they've done anything to suggest that another 3 or 4 hitter is necessary... Unless Manny demands a trade and is actually listened to. Then all bets are off.

Where does the idea he can coach young people even come from? Note the 'some kind'. Do I think he's a pitching coach? Nah. Do I think his obsessive nerdish qualities can be harnessed to benefit the pitching staff, whether through getting him to do the video and stat analysis, or showing young pitchers how to do it for themselves without it being a drag? Yeah. The question is whether an additional year's contract translates into getting Schilling to stick around at a big discount afterwards. If he's going to ship out or devote himself to MMOs, then the deal's not so good. One final thing: A-Rod deliberately chose to piss on the Red Sox' parade. Not that endearing to the fanbase.

I don't put the timing of the announcement on A Rod as much as Scott Boras, though both are responsible. I'd love to see Boras get less for A Rod than he would've gotten from the Yankees, but I suspect he's already close to a deal.

I'd love to see Boras get less for A Rod than he would've gotten from the Yankees, but I suspect he's already close to a deal. Even if he did, he could spin it so that ARod left NY for some place that he would feel comfortable, and it wasn't about the money.

but you guys were about an hour away from getting him three years ago and couldn't wait. What jerseygirl said. Almost every reason a sox fan wouldn't want arod on the team has happened since that point. And again, rcade might be right. But I have no doubt there's a large segment of fans that would never be won over by arod, many on this site, and I don't think it's all talk.

Then it would be totally unique to Boston. Because I guarantee you that whoeever signs Barry Bonds will have their fans cheering for him after one dinger. I strongly doubt that ARod would be any different, in any city. That's just pro sports.

Because I guarantee you that whoeever signs Barry Bonds will have their fans cheering for him after one dinger. I strongly doubt that ARod would be any different, in any city. No doubt. But if Arod signs in boston for 30m a year and then starts out the first month with mediocre numbers he'd be booed, right? If you're saying that Arod would get approval by the majority of fans if he has great numbers, I agree. But there's a difference between loving his numbers and loving the player. He would never be ortiz or even manny in boston, so he better produce, just like his situation in new york. Or else it would get very ugly. I mean, did anyone watch his first two years in New York? I did. He was booed constantly, and his numbers were pretty damn good. So it wasn't 1 homer equals love there. Not sure why boston would be different. He'd be coming into a more hostile environment than when he signed with NY.

I don't put the timing of the announcement on A Rod as much as Scott Boras, though both are responsible. Agreed -- A-Rod has always struck me as having an IQ just slightly above room temperature; Boras pulls the strings. A-Rod may have been aware of the timing, but I'll bet a sixpack he just didn't get the implications, as obvious as they should have been.

But there's a difference between loving his numbers and loving the player. That's not necessarily a charachter trait unique to Boston, though. I mean, he never really completely won over all of Yankeedom, did he? That said, he can be a Royal any day, as far as I am concerned. Of course his salary would just about equal the entire rest of the team.

That's not necessarily a charachter trait unique to Boston Agreed, and I never said it was. Look, I'm not comparing the passion of different teams, and I don't speak for the Boston Fan Base. I'm a thousand miles away. Jerseygirl, yerfatma, and others can answer that question better than I can. But I do know there is a very open dislike among boston fans for arod, for whatever reason, his fault or not. And yes, if he has great numbers people will be cheering. But if doesn't, or tanks in the playoffs, it's going to be worse than it was in New York. He's coming from New York, and if he lands in boston one reason will be for more money. Arod making 30m and Ortiz 13? That's a recipe for disaster. I think he'd be booed faster in Boston than NY (just one of many reason I think clemens picked ny, I don't think he would have gotten the free pass he got from yankee fans). I can't see arod wanting to go to boston, and I'll really be shocked if boston makes a push for him. He'll be a great pickup for the Angels, or Dodgers, or another team where he wouldn't be on the edge of being booed as he was with NY and would be with Boston again.

Arod making 30m and Ortiz 13? That's a recipe for disaster. I agree with that statement, but I don't really like it. It is incredibly naive to think there wouldn't be a jealousy issue. But I also think it's equally offensive to think that Ortiz deserves that kind of money just because he's not A Rod. Are his numbers as deserving of that kind of money? I really believe that a large part of the A Rod hate is based on just that...jealousy. Even fans of his teams hate him because they are working their butts off for their salaries that may not equal a tenth of a percentage point of his. There have been a lot bigger jerks in the sporting community who still retained a large, passionate fan base.

But I also think it's equally offensive to think that Ortiz deserves that kind of money just because he's not A Rod. I'm not talking about ortiz being jealous. I'm talking about fans comparing the two. Equal? No, because he's a dh. Less than half? That's insane. His OPS was 1 point behind Arod. He's been the face of the franchise, had monster years ever since 2003, delivered consistently in the post season, and been a possible MVP winner every year. What's offensive is not believing Ortiz belongs in the same class as arod. There have been a lot bigger jerks in the sporting community who still retained a large, passionate fan base. And most have a large passionate base that hate them also, and that's without trying to upstage the world series.

Try to re-sign Lowell for a short-term (3 year max) deal at reasonable money or, if not, move Youkilis back to third and get somebody like Carlos Pena to play first. When I wrote the above, I wasn't aware the Pena is still under the Devil Rays control through 2009; I thought he was a free agent. It's amazing that he's kicked around so much yet still doesn't have the service time to be a free agent. I assume the Rays are going to go to arbitration with him or maybe look to buy out his arbitration years and then some with a four or so year contract. So not really an option for Boston and not an advisable trade for them to make, as Pena's value is probably higher now that historical performance warrants.

I honestly didn't realize that there was a post about this already (thanx LBB) so: Alex Rodriguez is the best player in the game right now and likely the future Homerun king (if he stays healthy and continues the pace that he's in). Who really cares when he opted out? The World Series was pretty much already over and for people to make such a big deal over this to me is actually hilarious. Is it because he opted out from the Yankees or because he'll be getting paid around or above the $30 million dollar mark? The guy deserves to view all of his options just as any other pro athlete with an opt out clause in their contract and if anyone decides to exercise that right, then so be it.

The World Series was pretty much already over and for people to make such a big deal over this to me is actually hilarious. You find the fact that most people who respect the game thought he should have waited an hour, or maybe the next day, to make that announcement hilarious? I fail to see the comedy.

I don't find it funny, but I don't see the lack of respect. Why not get the news out to the audience that would care the most, when most of them are gathered in one place, (in front of televisions watching FOX). Had any other network gotten the news, do you think they would have held it? Someone mentioned it in another thread. Howard Cosell broke in to Monday Night Football when John Lennon was killed. Not only was that news not football related, it was not sports related. Is that what makes this offensive to people?

No, it wasn't patently offensive, necessarily, but it was, in the very least, in bad taste, and will do nothing to help Rodriguez' reputation as a "me-first" sort of guy. This is, after all, the ultimate stage in the sport, and he uses it as a self-promotion opportunity. Take a moment and think of how many prospective free agents have waited until the World Series, which they weren't even playing in, to announce their intentions. How many can you think of? Take all the time you need, I'll wait.

You find the fact that most people who respect the game thought he should have waited an hour, or maybe the next day, to make that announcement hilarious? I fail to see the comedy. I have nothing but the upmost respect for the game of baseball but I still fail to see this blatant disrespect for the game with the report that A-Rod opted out. For people to get all bent out of shape about this is not humorous in the comical sense but more like, "I can't believe people are actually that upset about this." A-Rod hasn't done anything as bad as what other athletes have done. He hasn't been involved in any off-field instances, he hasn't gotten any DUI's, night club shooting, or domestic charges, so my question is, what really is the problem that people have with the best baseball player on the planet? Is it the he disappears in cluth time or is it that it seems he's trying to get paid? If any of us were to ever be put in that situation, I'm sure that we would want to get the most money as possible. Sure, maybe the report shouldn't have been brought up during the World Series but oh well, it was. Now people need to get over it and enjoy the fact that the NBA season has begun.

A-Rod hasn't done anything as bad as what other athletes have done. He hasn't been involved in any off-field instances, he hasn't gotten any DUI's, night club shooting, or domestic charges, so my question is, what really is the problem that people have with the best baseball player on the planet? You don't deserve credit for not doing anything criminal in my book. You can still be a law-abiding, me-first jerk.

A-Rod hasn't done anything as bad as what other athletes have done. Come on. That's not a defense. That's what children say to get out of trouble. Sure, it's being overblown because it's arod. But it was a stupid thing to do, unless he simply craves all attention both bad and good. In that case, brilliant. It seems more humorous to me that arod and boras couldn't wait 12 hours or 24 hours or whatever to make the announcement. Such a simple concept to grasp and yet... which is why I don't feel sorry for them even if it's being overblown. They knew what they were doing.

And let's not forget about this lovely on-field incident. As a Blue Jays fan, I'm still embarrassed that players on the team I cheer for (and media as well) made such a big deal about that. It's gamesmanship. I'd say it's right up there with the hidden ball trick, or the second baseman pretending he fielded the ball to slow up the runner going to third base.

As a Blue Jays fan, I'm still embarrassed that players on the team I cheer for (and media as well) made such a big deal about that. It's gamesmanship. Since it's A-Rod, everything gets blown up for no apparent reason. Remember when he was with his wife and kid in Central Park and decided to take his shirt off? It was like, "Shit, fucking A-Rod!! Look at him now hogging up all the damn sun. Now how am I supposed to get my tan on?" Just give it up. Once he gets a man-crush on somebody, it's all over. Don't be jealous. I already told you, "We're thru, now get over it!"

Since it's A-Rod, everything gets blown up for no apparent reason. I wouldn't say for no apparent reason. He has a magnifying glass on him for sure. But how much is the action and how much is the fact that it's arod is still a question mark. To figure it out we have to compare his "haa!' to other instances this year. The problem? Don't have one. As far as releasing news that he was becoming a free agent, you have to compare it to other players that made major announcements during the world series. Again, there is no one. Overblown, sure, no apparent reason? There's plenty of reasons.

No one is without flaws but it wasn't even A-Rod that made this announcement, all he did was opt out. It was FOX news that made the announcement during the World Series so maybe this so-called "disrespect for the game" should be pointed at the news station that decided to go ahead with the story during the game. I still see nothing wrong with it since I was able to enjoy the game even after the announcement was made.

There's plenty of reasons that people find in order to hate the guy is more like it. They're just at one end of the spectrum and you happen to be at the other. Some people hate Arod no matter what he does. That's one side. You're on the other. He can do no wrong. It's other people that have the problem. Besides, it's the fault of Boras. But this time there was a middle ground. Plenty of people who liked arod, plenty of people who supported him, thought this was classless. So I accept that you don't think it was a big deal, but believing those criticizing him are just haters who have it out for arod is false.

Gary, I don't happen to be on either side of your matrix. Not a Yankee fan, not an A-Rod fan, not a hater of either. I just don't think A-rod might have either known about the Boras plan, or think FOX could have chosen to run it later. Where do I fit in your matrix?

I just don't think A-rod might have either known about the Boras plan, or think FOX could have chosen to run it later. The first one is ridiculous if true. Boras works for arod. The second would never happen. I have no idea where you fit.